228 Eliz, NavalExpeditions 9 &c of the English, . Book 1 1* -C

1596. “ strike any inferiour Person, he shall

“ receive Punishment, according, to the" Offence given, be it by Death ; or o-“ therwise. ru

XXIX. “ There shall be no Re^" port or Talk raised in the . Fleet,“ wherein any Officer or Gentleman in“ the same may be touched in , Repu-“ tation j Or Matter of Importance spok-“ en, without his Author, who shall be“ severely punished, as an evil Mern-“ ber amongst Us.

The Sum of Her Majefy's Inf ructionsand Orders may be reduced to these fol-lowing.

Sum of the cc * sp g-' q ma ke a strict Enquiry into the

fruitions"' " •*" Quantity of Provisions, that

“ were laid up in the Spanish Ships or“ Ware-houfos, to be made Use of a-“ gainst England and Ireland , or sent“ to Calais, and to do what they could“ to intercept or destroy them, as also" the Enemies Ships, so far as might be“ done, without running two great a" Risque on their own Side. For (as“ she often used to sav) She had much“ rather her Men should be reserved“ for the Defence of their own Country" than pushed upon the common Haz-“ ards of War, where little was to be“ got either of Honour or Advantage.“ That what Towns soever they took,“ they should spare the Women, and“ those that were very young or else“ decrepit, and put none to the Sword“ but such as made Opposition. That“ the Spoil and Plunder should be kept“ safe, to make good the Expences of“ the War, and to reward those that" acted bravely. That the Gentlemen" of the Council should faithfully deli-<c ver their Advices and Opinions, with-“ out dividing into Sides and Parties;te and that the Plurality of Votes should" always determine it. That when“ they had destroyed what Ship or Pro-" visions they could, belonging to the“ Enemy, they should send out some" Men of War to intercept the Indian" Carracks, if they received any Intelli-" gence of their coming.

Before they departed from Plymouth,a Manifesto was printed and published,in French, Italian, Hutch and Spanish,shewing the just and urgent Reasons,why the Queen, at this Time, set forth

so great a Navy, and threatning all ,Na- 1 eyffi.

tions,. which should any Way assist theSpaniards against them. ■ : :

The Contents of this -Manifesto .wereas follows: ,

" To all Chris ian People,, to whom" this Declaration shall come, to be" read or heard, Greeting. . , i

" XXJ E, Robert, Earl of Efex and j Manifest 0" ^ ' Ewe, Vicount Hereford, Lord pubhfhed f" Ferrers of Chart ley, - Bcur c hier, and t f’

" Louvain,. &c. And Charles, Lord enera“ How.ard, Baron of Effing ham, Lord" High Admiral of England, foe. Hav-" ing the Charge of a Royal Navy ofrc Ships, prepared and sent to the Seas-,

" by the most excellent Princess, the" Lady Elizabeth, Queen of England,

" France, and Ireland, &c. Do give all" Men Knowledge,, that the faidNavy,

" under our Charge, is by Her Maje^-" sty prepared, and sent to serve, on the“ Seas, for Defence,of Her Majesty’s“ Realms, Dominions and Subjects, a-“ gainst such mighty Forces as .we are" advertised, from all Parts of Christen-tc dom, to be already prepared by the“ King of Spain, and’by farther, Provi-“ signs of Men and Ships, daily sent" for, are to bg mightily encreafed, to“ invade Her Majesty’s Realms,: as“ heretofore in the Year, 1588. was" attempted (even 'when there: was a" Treaty continued, by both their Ma-jesties for Peace) with a greater Ar-“ my than ever before, in his:Time,

“ was set to Seas-; Tho’, by God’s“ Goodness, and the Valour and Wis-" dom of her Noble and Faithful Sub-" jects, the same was notably made" frustrate. And because Her Maje-“ sty hath good Intelligence of perfect“ Amity with all Kings and Princes of" Christendom, saving with the King“ of Spain, who hath these many Years“ most unjustly profesied openly great" Enmity, by divers Actions, both a-" gainst her Royal Person, and her<<s People and Countries, without any“ just Cause first giyen, on Her Maje-“ sty’s Part. Therefore, We, the said“ Earl, and Lord Admiral, do afoer-" tain all Persons, that We are most“ strictly commanded, by Her Excel-" font Majesty, to forbear from Offend-ing in this Our Voyage, of any Man-" net of Persons, of what Nation fo^

“ ever.